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Announcing: IAMA Theatre Company Presents ‘The Recommendation’ by Jonathan Caren – February 8 thru March 9

IAMA THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS
THE LOS ANGELES PREMIERE OF
THE RECOMMENDATION
BY JONATHAN CAREN
DIRECTED BY LAURA SAVIA

OPENS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8
AT THEATRE ASYLUM FOR FIVE WEEKS ONLY

Recommendation PosterIAMA Theatre Company (Becca Wolff, Artistic Director, Cymbre Walk, Producing Director) has announced the Los Angeles premiere of The Recommendation, written by Jonathan Caren and directed by Laura Savia, at Theatre Asylum in Hollywood. There will be two lower-priced preview performances on Thursday, February 6 and Friday, February 7 at 8pm, and opening is set for Saturday, February 8 at 8pm. The Recommendation will play a limited engagement through March 9 only.

The Recommendation is the story of Aaron Feldman — smart, privileged, and liked by everyone — and his college roommate Iskinder, who is modest, unconnected, and from a middle-class immigrant family. They become best friends in college and Aaron shares his world of favors and fortune with Iskinder. Once out in the real world, however, Aaron is thrust into a terrifying situation without his familiar safety net. As he is forced to rely on an accused felon to keep him safe, Aaron and Iskinder are forced to rethink the meaning of friendship and where loyalty has its limits.

The cast of The Recommendation will feature (in alphabetical order) Malcolm Barrett, Brandon Scott, and Adam Shapiro. The set design is by Rachel Myers, lighting design is by Carolina Ortiz, sound design is by Jeff Gardner, and costume design is by Melissa Trn. The stage manager is Josephine Austin.

Jonathan Caren’s other plays include The Morning The Sun Fell Down, Let Me Go, Catch the Fish, and The Venerable Raman Gupta. His work has been developed at theatres across the country including Manhattan Theatre Club, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Ars Nova, The Roundabout Underground, The Pasadena Playhouse, The Keen Company, Woodshed Ensemble, Berkshire Playwrights Lab, The Lark, New York Stage and Film, The Jewish Plays Project, The Samuel French OOB Festival, and The Old Vic in London. Caren is a 2013 MacDowell Colony Fellow, a 2012 Dramatist Guild Fellow, the 2011 New York Stage and Film Founder’s Award Winner, a two-time recipient of a Fellowship to SPACE @ Ryder Farm, a two-time Lecomte du Nouy Award-winner and a recipient of the Theatre Publicus Prize for Dramatic Fiction.

Laura Savia’s directing credits include The Mnemonist of Dutchess County, Letters to Santa, The Glass Menagerie, House Strictly Private, The Color of Justice and The Lover, as well as numerous short plays for Ars Nova, Partial Comfort, At Play, and The 24-Hour Plays. She has directed workshops and readings for The Public Theater, Roundabout Theatre Company, Atlantic Theater Company, Second Stage, and Ma-Yi Theater Company, among others. Savia is the workshop director at the Williamstown Theatre Festival where she serves as artistic producer for 12 late-night and outdoor productions each summer.

There will be two lower-priced preview on Thursday, February 6 and Friday, February 7 at 8pm, and opening is set for Saturday, February 8 at 8pm. Admission for previews is $13 in advance with code RECIAMA or $15 at the door, and regular tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. The running schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm through March 9 only. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.iamatheatre.com or by calling (323) 645-0134.

Theatre Asylum is located at 6320 Santa Monica Boulevard (just west of Vine), in Hollywood, 90038. Street parking is available.

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01-30-14

Announcing: Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Announces 2013 Nominations

LOS ANGELES DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE
ANNOUNCES 2013 NOMINATIONS

LADCC LogoThe Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced its 2013 nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles, Orange County and Ventura County theatre. The 45th Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 17, 2014 at The Colony Theatre, located at 555 N. Third Street in Burbank. Tickets are $40 (plus service fee) and are available online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/565317. Doors open at 6:30pm for pre-show appetizers and a no-host bar, and the ceremony begins at 7:30pm. For more information, visit www.ladramacriticscircle.com.

James Roday (Red Dog Squadron, Co-owner of the Circle Theatre) is currently scheduled to host. Performing at the event will be Constance Jewell Lopez (nominated for lead performance in Dreamgirls), and LA theatre favorites Beth Malone and Lowe Taylor. There will also be a special performance from LA Theatre Works, recipient of this year’s Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in theatre. Presenters will include David Kurs (Deaf West), Gates McFadden (Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA), Nicole Parker (nominated for lead performance in Funny Girl), Stephen Sachs (Fountain Theatre), and Lisa Wolpe (LA Women’s Shakespeare Company). Additional performers and presenters will be announced at a later date.

The LADCC is grateful to the organizations who have graciously agreed to sponsor the special awards this year. Awards will be given in 19 categories, along with six special awards.

The 2013 special award recipients are as follows:

  • The Ted Schmitt Award for the World Premiere of an Outstanding New Play will be awarded to Kemp Powers for One Night in Miami … The award is accompanied by an offer to publish by Samuel French, Inc.
  • The Polly Warfield Award for an Excellent Season in a Small to Midsize Theatre will be awarded to Actors Co-op. The award is accompanied by an honorarium, funded by the Nederlander Organization.
  • The Margaret Harford Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatre will be awarded to LA Theatre Works. The award is accompanied by an honorarium, funded by The Knitting Factory Entertainment Company.
  • The Joel Hirschhorn Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theatre will be awarded to David Elzer. The award is accompanied by an honorarium, funded by an anonymous donor.
  • The Milton Katselas Award for Career or Special Achievement in Direction will be awarded to Bart DeLorenzo. The award is accompanied by an honorarium, funded by The Beverly Hills Playhouse.
  • The LADCC is pleased to announce the creation of a new award, The Kinetic Lighting Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatrical Design. Kinetic Lighting is an award-winning rental house that supplies and supports the theatre community throughout Southern California. The inaugural recipient of the Kinetic Lighting Award is Angela Balogh Calin for her sustained achievement in costume design.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle was founded in 1969. It is dedicated to excellence in theatrical criticism, and to the encouragement and improvement of theatre in Greater Los Angeles.

The 2013 nominees are:

Production

  1. A Family Thing, Chris Fields and Lauren Bass, The Echo Theater Company at Stage 52
  2. One Night in Miami…, John Perrin Flynn and Roxanne Hart, Rogue Machine Theatre
  3. Our Class, Son of Semele Ensemble, Atwater Village Theatre
  4. The Nether, Center Theatre Group, Kirk Douglas Theatre
  5. The Scottsboro Boys, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre
  6. Walking the Tightrope, Debbie Devine and Jay McAdams, 24th Street Theatre
  7. We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884–1915, Joseph Stern and The Matrix Theatre Company, The Matrix Theatre

McCulloh Award for Revival

  1. A View From The Bridge, Valerie Havey, Julianne Figueroa, Sara Newman-Martins, Robert Cannon, and Marilyn Fox, Pacific Resident Theatre
  2. Dreamgirls, Mike Abramson and Dolf Ramos, DOMA Theatre Co. at The MET Theatre
  3. The Fantasticks, South Coast Repertory
  4. The Normal Heart, Deborah Lawlor and Stephen Sachs, The Fountain Theatre

Direction

  1. T.J. Dawson, Parade, 3–D Theatricals at Plummer Auditorium
  2. Amanda Dehnert, The Fantasticks, South Coast Repertory
  3. Nancy Keystone, Alcestis, The Theatre @ Boston Court
  4. Jessica Kubzansky, R II, The Theatre @ Boston Court
  5. Matthew McCray, Our Class, Son of Semele Ensemble at Atwater Village Theatre
  6. Todd Nielsen, Master Class, International City Theatre

Writing

  1. Johnna Adams, Gidion’s Knot, Furious Theatre Company at Carrie Hamilton Theatre at Pasadena Playhouse
  2. Allen Barton, Years to the Day, Skylight Theatre Company at Beverly Hills Playhouse
  3. Stephen Adly Guirgis, The Motherfucker With the Hat, South Coast Repertory
  4. Jennifer Haley, The Nether, Kirk Douglas Theatre

Writing (Adaptation)

  1. Richard Alger, Track 3, Theatre Movement Bazaar and Bootleg Theater at Bootleg Theater
  2. Nancy Keystone, Alcestis, The Theatre @ Boston Court

Musical Score

  1. John Kander and Fred Ebb, The Scottsboro Boys, Ahmanson Theatre

Music Direction

  1. Eric Heinly, A Midsummer Saturday Night’s Fever Dream, Troubadour Theater Company at Falcon Theatre
  2. Corey Hirsch, A Man of No Importance, Good People Theater Company at Lillian Theatre
  3. David Lamoureux, Parade, 3–D Theatricals at Plummer Auditorium
  4. Chris Raymond, Dreamgirls, DOMA Theatre Co. at The MET Theatre
  5. Ross Seligman, One Night With Janis Joplin, Pasadena Playhouse

Choreography

  1. Matthew Bourne, Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, Ahmanson Theatre
  2. Tina Kronis, Track 3, Theatre Movement Bazaar and Bootleg Theater at Bootleg Theater
  3. Kelly Todd, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Chance Theater
  4. Rae Toledo, Dreamgirls, DOMA Theatre Co. at The MET Theatre

Lead Performance

  1. Tony Abatemarco, Red, International City Theatre
  2. Gigi Bermingham, Master Class, International City Theatre
  3. Tim Cummings, The Normal Heart, The Fountain Theatre
  4. Mary Bridget Davies, One Night With Janis Joplin, Pasadena Playhouse
  5. Dana Delany, The Parisian Woman, South Coast Repertory
  6. Constance Jewell Lopez, Dreamgirls, DOMA Theatre Co. at The MET Theatre
  7. Perry Ojeda, The Fantasticks, South Coast Repertory
  8. Nicole Parker, Funny Girl, 3–D Theatricals at Plummer Auditorium
  9. Jeff Skowron, Parade, 3–D Theatricals at Plummer Auditorium
  10. Paige Lindsey White, Walking the Tightrope, 24th Street Theatre
  11. Michael Yavnieli, Years to the Day, Skylight Theatre Company at Beverly Hills Playhouse

Featured Performance

  1. Christian Barillas, The Motherfucker With the Hat, South Coast Repertory
  2. Sabrina Elayne Carten, One Night With Janis Joplin, Pasadena Playhouse,
  3. Nate Dendy, The Fantasticks, South Coast Repertory
  4. Michael Nehring, Our Class, Son of Semele Ensemble at Atwater Village Theatre
  5. Welton Thomas Pitchford, Dreamgirls, DOMA Theatre Co. at The MET Theatre
  6. Elizabeth Regen, A Family Thing, The Echo Theater Company at Stage 52
  7. Patrick Stafford, Red, International City Theatre

Ensemble Performance

  1. One Night in Miami…, Rogue Machine Theatre
  2. Our Class, Son of Semele Ensemble at Atwater Village Theatre
  3. The Fantasticks, South Coast Repertory
  4. The Scottsboro Boys, Ahmanson Theatre
  5. We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884–1915, Matrix Theatre

Solo Performance

  1. Lorenzo Pisoni, Humor Abuse, Mark Taper Forum

Set Design

  1. Lez Brotherston, Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, Ahmanson Theatre
  2. Danny Cistone, Cops and Friends of Cops, VS. Theatre
  3. Adrian W. Jones, The Nether, Kirk Douglas Theatre
  4. Jeanine A. Ringer, Pericles, Prince of Tyre, A Noise Within

Lighting Design

  1. Ken Booth, Pericles, Prince of Tyre, A Noise Within
  2. Paule Constable, Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, Ahmanson Theatre
  3. Christopher Kuhl, The Nether, Kirk Douglas Theatre
  4. Jeremy Pivnick, R II, The Theatre @ Boston Court

Costume Design

  1. Lez Brotherston, Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, Ahmanson Theatre
  2. Shon LeBlanc, Parade, 3–D Theatricals at Plummer Auditorium
  3. Sharon McGunigle, A Midsummer Saturday Night’s Fever Dream, Troubadour Theater Company at Falcon Theatre
  4. Michael Mullen, Dreamgirls, DOMA Theatre Co. at The MET Theatre

Sound Design

  1. Peter Bayne, The Normal Heart, The Fountain Theatre
  2. John Zalewski, R II, The Theatre @ Boston Court
  3. John Zalewski, The Nether, Kirk Douglas Theatre
  4. John Zalewski, Walking the Tightrope, 24th Street Theatre

Video Design

  1. Adam Flemming, The Normal Heart, The Fountain Theatre
  2. Matthew G. Hill, Walking the Tightrope, 24th Street Theatre
  3. Kaitlyn Pietras (Projection Design), R II, The Theatre @ Boston Court
  4. Jason Thompson (Projection Design), Heart of Darkness, The Actors’ Gang

Movement/Fight Choreography

  1. Ned Mochel, Cops and Friends of Cops, VS. Theatre
  2. Nenad Pervan, Tender Napalm, SIX01 Studio

Illusions/Magic Design

  1. Jim Steinmeyer, The Fantasticks, South Coast Repertory
  2. Johnny Thompson, Play Dead, Geffen Playhouse

Total Nominations by Production:

A Family Thing (2)
A Man of No Importance (1)
A Midsummer Saturday Night’s Fever Dream (2)
A View From the Bridge (1)
Alcestis (2)
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (1)
Cops and Friends of Cops (2)
Dreamgirls (6)
Funny Girl (1)
Gidion’s Knot (1)
Heart of Darkness (1)
Humor Abuse (1)
Master Class (2)
Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty (4)
One Night in Miami… (2)
One Night With Janis Joplin (3)
Our Class (4)
Parade (4)
Pericles, Prince of Tyre (2)
Play Dead (1)
R II (4)
Red (2)
Tender Napalm (1)
The Fantasticks (6)
The Motherfucker With the Hat (2)
The Nether (5)
The Normal Heart (4)
The Parisian Woman (1)
The Scottsboro Boys (3)
Track 3 (2)
Walking the Tightrope (4)
We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884–1915 (2)
Years to the Day (2)

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01-27-14

Announcing: Linda Lavin: Portrait of an Artist – One Night Only Benefit for Celebration Theatre – Sat, Feb 1

Celebration Theatre
Presents a One Night Only Benefit Event
PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST:
AN EVENING WITH LINDA LAVIN
Featuring Lavin’s Husband and Artist Steve Bakunas

Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 8pm
Atwater Village Theatre in LA
Proceeds to Benefit Celebration Theatre

Linda LavinCelebration Theatre has announced a one night only benefit event — Portrait Of An Artist: An Evening With Linda Lavin, featuring Lavin’s husband and artist Steve Bakunas, on Saturday, February 1 at the Atwater Village Theatre in Los Angeles. The curtain rises at 8pm, and proceeds from the evening will go to support Celebration Theatre.

In an intimate setting, actress Linda Lavin shares in detail the story of her life and career as her husband, artist Steve Bakunas, paints her portrait while conducting the interview. Always spontaneous and revealing, Lavin opens up about her early years as a chorus girl, a cabaret singer, Broadway star and television icon. Bakunas, a multi-talented renaissance man, mines for the gold with humor and sensitivity, providing an entertaining and insightful evening.

Linda Lavin, a six-time Tony Award nominee, won the 1987 Tony for Best Leading Performance By An Actress In A Play (as well as the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Helen Hayes Awards) for her performance in Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound. Lavin’s other widely acclaimed stage appearances include Last of the Red Hot Lovers, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Collected Stories, and most recently The Lyons. She is well known to television audiences for her portrayal of the title role in Alice, which ran for nine seasons (1976-1985) on CBS, and she currently co-stars on Sean Saves The World with Sean Hayes on NBC. Lavin’s recent film credits include roles in The Back­Up Plan and Wanderlust.

Steve Bakunas has worked in a traveling circus, as a used car salesman, a mechanic, a bellhop, a bartender, a carpenter, a limo driver for The Grateful Dead, a taxi driver in San Francisco, a school bus driver, a Fuller Brush man, a house painter, a furniture upholsterer and designer, a carpet salesman, a truck driver and bulldozer operator, and a telegram singer. His acting credits include Doubt, Rabbit Hole, Dinner With Friends, Art, Speed The Plow, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Proof. Bakunas’s directing credits include Collected Stories, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Lobby Hero, and God Of Carnage. He is currently a jazz drummer for his wife’s cabaret act, and a self taught painter.

Founded in 1982 and now in its 31st season, Celebration Theatre is a community of artists dedicated to presenting innovative, provocative and relevant work that examines the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer experience. It provides a supportive forum for professional and emerging writers, directors, designers and performers, giving voice to the full experience of gay culture. The theatre endeavors to challenge society’s perception of the community and give a vibrant voice to its evolving identity.

Tickets for intimate onstage seating (with bottle service) for Linda Lavin: Portrait Of An Artist on Saturday, February 1 at 8pm are $100 each. Premium seating is $75, and general seating ranges from $30—$50. Tickets may be purchased online at www.celebrationtheatre.com or by phone at (323) 957-1884. Celebration’s temporary home, the Atwater Village Theatre, is located at 3269 Casitas Avenue, in Los Angeles.

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01-24-14